Sayn-Wittgenstein

Infobox Former Country
native_name = "Grafschaft Sayn-Wittgenstein"
conventional_long_name = County of Sayn-Wittgenstein
common_name = Sayn-Wittgenstein|
continent = Europe
region = Central Europe
country = Germany
era = Middle Ages
status = Vassal
empire = Holy Roman Empire
government_type = Principality|
year_start = 1384
year_end = 1607|
event_pre = Count of Sayn-Homburg
marries heiress to
Wittgenstein
date_pre =

1345
event_start = Counties merged
date_start =
event_end = Partitioned to S-W-Sayn,
S-W-Berleburg and
S-W-Wittgenstein
date_end =

1607
event_post = Mediatised to Berg
date_post = 1808|
p1 = Sayn-Homburg
image_p1 =
p2 = County of Wittgenstein
image_p2 =
s1 = Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
image_s1 =
s2 = Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
image_s2 =
s3 = Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein
image_s3 = |



|


image_map_caption = |
capital = Wittgenstein Castle

Sayn-Wittgenstein was a County of mediæval Germany, located in the Sauerland of eastern North Rhine-Westphalia. Sayn-Wittgenstein was created when Count Salentin of Sayn-Homburg married the heiress Countess Adelaide of Wittgenstein in 1345. The united Counties then became known as Sayn-Wittgenstein, although it only officially became known as such during the reign of Salentin's successor Count John. The territory of Sayn-Wittgenstein was often divided between northern (based around Berleburg) and southern (based around Bad Laasphe) divisions, although the border between the two often shifted. Sayn-Wittgenstein was partitioned in 1607 into: Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn (in the originally territories of Sayn), and Sayn-Wittgenstein-Wittgenstein. The area of both former counties is known today as "Wittgenstein", and is part of the district Siegen-Wittgenstein in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Counts of Sayn-Wittgenstein (1354–1607)

* Salentin, Count of Sayn-Homburg (1354–84)
* John (1384–1427)
* George (1427–69)
* Eberhard (1469–94)
* William I (1494–68)
* Louis I (1568–1607)

See also

*Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
*Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hachenburg
*Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein
*Sayn-Wittgenstein-Karlsburg
*Sayn-Wittgenstein-Ludwigsburg
*Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
*Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn-Altenkirchen
*Sayn-Wittgenstein-Vallendar
*Sayn
*Sponheim-Sayn
*Sayn-Homburg